Biology/Pre-Dentistry Concentration (BIPD)

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Biology/Pre-Dentistry Concentration BIPD

Required Courses		Credit Hours
General Education
This degree requires completion of the General Education requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree. Details of these requirements are delineated on the General Education website. Courses listed below as program/major required courses with the indicators: C, S, Z, R, G, may also be used to satisfy some of these general education requirements.

Required Courses or Program:

Biology classes
BIOL 121	General Biology 1	4
BIOL 122	General Biology 2	4
BIOL 321	Human Physiology-Anatomy 1	4
BIOL 322	Human Physiology-Anatomy 2	4
BIOL 375	Principles of Genetics	3
BIOL 460	Current Topics in BIOL	2
Biology electives 300 or higher (consult advisor)		7 - 9
*BIOL 370	(recommended)	4

Choose 1 of the following 2 Microbiology classes:
BIOL 286	General Microbiology	3
or
BIOL 386	Microbiology and Immunology	5

Choose 1 of the following 3 Ecology classes:
BIOL 346	Ecological Assessment	3
BIOL 347	Environmental Conservation	3
BIOL 442	Ecology	3

Supporting Sciences
MATH 120	Trigonometry	3
CHEM 121	General Chemistry 1	5
CHEM 122	General Chemistry 2	5
CHEM 321	Organic Chemistry 1	5
CHEM 322	Organic Chemistry 2	5

Choose 1 of the following 2 Biochemistry classes:
CHEM 324	Fund of Biochemistry	3
or
CHEM 364	Biochemistry	4

Choose 1 of the following 2-course Physics sequences:
PHYS 211	Introductory Physics 1	4
PHYS 212	Introductory Physics 2	4
Or
PHYS 241	General Physics 1	5
PHYS 242	General Physics 2	5

Biology Application Area		3
Recommended
RMLS 122	Responding to Emergencies	2

Additional Program Requirements
COMM 121	Fundamentals-Public Speaking	3

Electives to a credit total of: 121 credits (consult advisor)		12 15
Recommended:
MGMT 310	Small Business Management	3

Why Choose Pre-Dentistry?

The Pre-Dentistry program at Ferris emphasizes natural science courses including biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, human physiology, anatomy and physics. This program is designed to prepare you for qualifying exams (DAT) and for professional schools.

Get Accepted to Dental School

A letter of acceptance from a dental school doesn`t come easily. It requires effort, time and careful preparation. Professors and advisors with knowledge and expertise in this field are essential, and students get a helping hand into dental school from the professionals at Ferris.

In fact, professional training in the health fields has been a specialty at Ferris for more than 100 years. Graduates of the Pre Dentistry program at Ferris benefit from this rich history and take with them important hands-on skills as they pursue a position in dental school. Students must be aware that admission to dental schools is highly selective and the student must achieve a very high grade average and DAT score to be competitive. FSU graduates with this type of academic accomplishment experience a high rate of acceptance into dental schools.

Admission Requirements

First year student admission is open to high school graduates (or equivalent) who demonstrate academic preparedness, maturity and seriousness of purpose with educational backgrounds appropriate to their chosen program of study. High school courses and grade point average, ACT composite score, and ACT reading and mathematics sub test scores will be considered in the admission and placement process. Transfer students must have at least 12 credits at the time of application with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA including an English and a mathematics course or they must provide their high school records and ACT scores for admission review.

Graduation Requirements

The Pre-Dentistry program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Graduation requires a minimum 2.0 GPA overall and a minimum of 121 credits including completion of all general education requirements as outlined on the General Education website. No grade lower than a 'C-' is acceptable in courses that apply to the major, supporting sciences, and application area of the program. At least 50% of the semester credits applying toward the Biology major must be completed at FSU with a minimum of 30 FSU credits overall.

Entrance to most dental schools is highly competitive. Most schools do not accept applicants who have less than a 3.5 college GPA. Applicants also must take qualifying exams (DAT) and be interviewed by dental school personnel. Students may earn only one degree in Biology (either B.S. or B.A.) from Ferris State University.

More Information

Department of Biology
Ferris State University
820 Campus Drive/ASC 2004
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone: 231-591-2550